Gearing for skates



Dec. (i, 1938. s. sl-:GAL 2,138,887

c-EARING FQR SKATES y 8 Filed Allg. 22,. 19835 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 6, 1938. s. SEGAL 2,138,887

GEARING FOR SKATES IFiledAug. 22, 1955 2 sheets-sheet 2 ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 6, 1938 UNiTED STATES eATENT oFFlcE 23 Claims.

The subject matter of the present invention is concerned with a skate and more particularly is directed to a functionally and structurally improved roller skate which will stand up under considerable usage and rough handling, which may be conveniently and readily assembled, and which when disorganized or out of adjustment may be readily repaired or readjusted by the reioval and replacement of relatively few inexpensive parts.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, arrangement of parts' which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth and the scope of the application thereof will be indicated in the app-ended claims.

The present invention will be best understood from the following discussion of several typical structural embodiments, reference being had to the accompanying drawings in which:-

l is a longitudinal elevational view of the skate according to my invention, partly illustrated in section.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view of the skate illustrated .in Fig. i.

Fig. 2A is a section taken on the line 2A-2A of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3-3 ci Fig. l.

Fig. 3A is a fragmentary view showing a folded position of the key relative to its bolt.

Fig. 4; is a section on the line 4-4 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4A is an elevational View of a wheel and its shaft.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5A. is a fragmentary View along the line '5A- 5A of Fig. l showing the clutch in section.

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 4--ii of Fig. l.

Fig. GA is a section on the line EA-BA of Fig. 6.

Fig. is a side elevational fragmentary view of slightly modiiied clamping jaw.

Fig. 7A is a longitudinal View of a Wheel shaft.

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view of Fig. 1.

9 is enlarged sectional view of a Wheel including an odometer device according to the invention.

l@ is a front elevational and broken View of the wheel illustrated in Fig. 9 and li is an exploded or disassembled view of the of the odometer.

'Illustrative of the embodiments disclosed in e several views of the drawings, the skate acing to my invention is generally designated il and comprises complementary slidable front and rear shoe supporting plate sections II and I2 to each of which is appropriately secured a channel shaped member I3 each having spaced perforated lugs I4 and I5 integrally depending from abottom inclined Wall I6 thereof.

Associated with each channel member I3 is a truck or yoke I'l each comprising spaced upstanding perforated lugs I8 and i9 adapted to be straddled by corresponding depending lugs of a companion channel member I3, the alined perfora tions of the spaced depending lugs of a channel and the alined perforations of the spaced lugs of a companion yoke being in registration and cooperate to receive a fulcrum rod 2li on which is seated a resilient or rubber block 2 I.

Each yoke is swingably mounted on a companion fulcrum rod 2U and the tension exerted by an associated resilient block 2l, imparts a downwardly directed force thereon, and consequently the walls of an annular groove 2?. of fulcrum rod 20 interlock and straddle the walls of the perforations 23 of depending lug I5. Hence longitudinal displacement of each fulcrum rod 2li is prevented.

The yoke Il associated with each of the channel members I3 is provided with a transversely disposed shaft supporting hollow knuckle 24 including spaced longitudinally arranged channels or slots 25 adapted to removably receive spaced arms 26 of a resilient wire swingable shaft locking loop generally denoted 2l'.

Spaced arms 26 of each loop terminate in upstanding terminals 28 projecting through spaced openings 2S, and are disposed against a companion resilient block 2| At the other end of each loop the arms 2S are bent upwardly but are interconnected by a horizontally disposed portion or lip 3U.

Rotatably relative to each fulcruin rod '2li is a U shaped manipulatable locking member 3l having spaced Wings 32 interconnected by a common wall 33 rotatably and eccentrically sustained on an annular shoulder 34 of a pin force fitted into bore 36 of rod 2D.

Spaced slots 25 divide each knuckle of the latter into three sections or ears 3l, 38 and 39. Ears 31 and 39 may be considered as the outer ears and ear 38 may be termed as the intermediate ear, an outer and intermediate ear cooperating to receive a stub shaft 4i) on which a wheel 4I is rotatably supported. Each stub shaft 4l] is provided with an annular groove or reduced portion d2 and an annular shoulder 49', limiting insertion of shaft 4t into the bearing formed by the spaced ears of a respective knuckle.

Spaced arms 25 of each locking loop 2'! are disposed and guided in spaced slots 25 of an associated knuckle 24 and cooperate with alined slots LEZ of the spaced stub shafts d after the latter' are inserted in a knuckle.

If therefore manipulator 3l is rotated the sides of spaced reentrant notches 43 in spaced wings 32 straddle closed end 30 of a respective loop and the spaced wings 32 cam or displace the loop, permitting arms 25 of the latter to hinge or move downwardly and enter grooves 42 of the stub shafts 49 to prevent lateral displacement of the latter. In other words, if the manipulator 32 is rotated in one direction, loop 2l hinges downwardly against the resistance or" its resilient block 2l, permitting the arms of the loop to interlock with the spaced stub shafts and the reentrant notches 43 in the spaced wings 32 are caused to frictionally interlock with the closed end of the loop 2l. Hence locking means is provided to retain the sides of the loop in interlocked relation with the stub shafts carried by each knuckle.

Complementary plate section l2 is provided with an intermediate attenuated or restricted portion 44 adapted to be slidably received and guided in the transversely disposed slot 45 in the front plate section II and the rear attenuated part 46 of the latter includes spaced depending anges 4l. Attenuated or restricted part 46 of plate section II comprises a central elongated slot 48' on each side of which is arranged a plurality of spaced circular indentations or perforations 49.

Fixedly carried by upper rear section I2 is a bolt 50 having its threaded shank 52 projecting into and through elongated slot 48. Cooperating with the threaded shank 52 is an internally threaded sleeve or bushing 53 rotatably journalled in an upper clamping plate 54 of a clutch broadly designated 55, which comprises loosely and pivotally interconnected plates 54 and 56 adapted to be urged apart by a helicoidal spring 55 surrounding pin 5'! carried by upper plate 54. The pivotal connection (see Fig. 2A) between the upper and lower clutch plates 54 and 55 comprises a depending but inverted T shaped lug 58 having laterally extending shoulders 59 supporting a rear slotted portion 60 of the lower clutch plate 5B slidably embracing a restricted part GI of lug 58.

Rotatable bushing 53 is also rotatable relative to lower clutch plate 5G provided the latter be manually moved towards upper plate 54 and against the energy of spring 56. In such relation, octagonal lower portion E3 of bushing 53 is free of a correspondingly shaped opening 62 in the lower clutch plate 5B and therefore rotation of the bushing causes upper clutch clamping plate 54 to be bodily moved towards or away from restricted portion 45 of the plate section I I depending of course, upon the direction of rotation of bushing 53,

With the lower clutch plate pressed against the upper clutch plate, rotation of bushing 53 is possible by rotating winged manipulator 54 fixedly carried by the bushing. Consequently upper clutch plate may be retracted from attenuated portion 4E of the front plate section II. Hence spaced locking detents or posts 65 carried by the upper clutch plate 54 may be withdrawn from alined openings 4S in plate section II. Therefore, if spaced posts 55 are free of openings 49, complementary sections II and I2 may be slidably adjusted to any desired position.

Having slidably adjusted plate sections I I and I2, the latter may be locked in such set position by moving spaced posts G5 of the upper clutch plate to interlock 'with a pair of alined perforations 49. To this end lower clutch plate 56 is moved or manually pressed towards the upper clutch plate, permitting release of the lower clutch plate 55 from the octagocal portion B3 of the bushing and consequently the latter may be rotated. Thus upper clutch plate 54 moves against rear part 4B of front section I I and spaced posts 65 thereof enter alined perforation 49, thus holding attenuated part 46 locked and clamped between restricted part 44 of the rear section and the upper clutch plate 54.

Pursuant to locking sections II and i2 to prevent longitudinal slippage in respect to each other, lower clutch plate 55 is manually released and bushing 53 is automatically retained against rotation, that is, the octagonal opening 62 in the lower clutch plate 5S cooperates with octagonal portion 53 of the bushing preventing accidental rotation or the latter and such interlocking relation is maintained by the action of spring 56.

Provision has been made to preclude tearing, chang or weakening of the rear fastening straps El. Hence each oi the upstanding lugs 58, for locating the heel of the shoe of the wearer is provided with a swingable loop shaped clip 59 each comprising arms 'IG and l! folded over each other to provide a loop having a channel threadably receiving and slidably retaining leather strap 61. Each loop is provided with rounded edges to preclude cliang of the strap when slidably moved relative to the guide clips 59 each of which has its lower portions disposed in Contact and swingably or pivotally fastened to a respective heel lug E8 by a suitable rivet l2.

The forward portion of plate section II carries a transversely disposed threaded bolt T3 having threads 'Z4 sloping to the left and threads 'l5 sloping to the right and adjustably mounted on bolt 'I3 is a pair of clamping jaws generally designated 'IS each of which includes an internally threaded depending ear 'VI mounted on bolt 13. Each jaw is also provided with a horizontal slotted arm 'I8 adapted to be rectilinearly displaced upon rotation of bolt .13 by reason of the guide rivets 'IS carried by section II.

Associated with each slotted arm 'I8 of the rectilinearly displaceable jaws 'I6 is a swingable head 83 of each rivet SI rotatably rests on the upper portion of its associated arm. It will be apparent therefore that the swingable lips 'I3 when a shoe is interposed therebetween, conveniently and automatically adjust themselves to the contour of the shoe.

In accordance with the invention, winged key B4 is permanently associated with rotatable bolt I3. More particularly, key 84 is swingable relative to a link 85 and the latter is swingable in respect to bolt I3. As shown in Fig. 3, key 84 is in axial alinement with bolt I3. Consequently if the key be rotated, bolt 'I3 will be correspondingly rotated and the jaws I8 will be rectilinearly moved towards or away from each other. In the form illustrated, key 84 is locked when disposed in axial alinement with bolt I3. In this connection, link 85 which is pivotally sustained by pins 86 and 8'! secured respectively to the key and bolt comprises ends B8 abutted by tumblers or cylinders 8S slidably disposed in bores of the bolt 13 and key 84. The tumblers of the latter are urged against the ends of the link 85 by helicoidal springs 9|, that is, springs 9| hold the tumblers of bolt 13 and the key locked against the ends of the link and hence the key and bolt 13 may be disposed in axial alinement or the key may be folded with respect to the link and the latter relative to the bolt so that the key may be held locked below the bolt and substantially parallel thereto as indicated in dash and dot lines illustrated in Fig. 2 and in the full lines in Fig. 3A.

In the form according to Fig. 7, a slidable modified toe clamping jaw is illustrated. In this case, swingable lip 19 is provided with a depending reduced portion or detent 93 rotatably sustained and received in a perforation 94 of slotted arm 18. Hence lip 19 may be pivotally displaced relative to its supporting arm 18.

Each of the stub shafts 40 carries as previously stated a wheel generally designated 4I which accordingto the invention consists of a pair of juxtapositioned but similar annular members or cups 94 and 95 each of which embodies a protruding or overhanging hollow vhub 96 each of which defines a ball bearing annular race- Way 91.

Disposed within the housing formed by adjacent hubs 96 is an annular flange 98 integral with an associated stub shaft (see Figs. 4 and 7A) and on each side of this ange there is provided an annular groove 99 forming a seat or raceway for ball bearings |00, the raceways 99 on each side of flange 98 being in alinement with a raceway 91 of a companion hub.

In assembling a wheel according to the invention outer cup 94 is first placed within shell or rim IOI in such a fashion that its hub 96 projects through opening |02 after which several ball bearings I=00 are placed in the outer raceway 91. Stub shaft 40' is now inserted within the hub so that its flange 98 is against the first layer of ball bearings. Subsequently another layer of ball bearings is positioned against the inner raceway 99 on the other side of flange 98. The inner annular member or cup is then placed over the inner layer of ball bearings and the annular members 94 and 95 are fixedly secured by rivets |03 to shell I0| of the wheel.

With the wheel according to the invention, two layers of ball bearings are provided consequently resistance to rotation of the shell of a wheel and its ball bearing housing relative to its supporting shaft is considerably reduced. Hence less effort is required in the matter of rotating the wheel. The shell of the latter and members 94I and 95 thereof if desired, may be of hardened steel processed in such fashion as not to be brittle or chip. It will also be appreciated that with the method herein disclosed, a wheel may be assembled on its supporting stub shaft in a comparatively short time and at a relatively low cost.

In the event a ball bearing becomes fractured during periods of use, the ball bearings become jammed in their raceway. Hence the wheel becomes locked to its stub shaft and consequently the wheel will drive its supporting stub shaft and the latter will be rotated relatively to its bearings or knuckle 24. With the present invention it is an easy matter to replace a wheel in the event it becomes defective for one reason or another. To replace a wheel, the operator simply actuates the eccentrically mounted manipulator 3 I, thereby releasing locking loop 21 from gooves 42 of the stub shafts after which the defective wheel and its stub shaft may be slidably removed from its knuckled bearing. 'Ihese steps are reversed where it is desired to mount and lock a new stub shaft to the knuckled bearing.

According to the invention, the approximate distance travelled by the skater may be readily determined or ascertained as will be described later. In this connection, a forward wheel 4| of each skate is provided with an odometer or registering device broadly designated |105, comprising as illustrated three speed reducing stages common to a crown gear |06 formed in a vertically disposed annular flange |01 of the revoluble substantially horizontal shell or rim |05 of Wheel 4|. As shown, crown gear |06 comprises seventeen grooves as |08 defining seventeen spaced teeth |09.

Integrally carried by stub shaft 40 is an eccentric or cam I0' and extending beyond the latter but concentric with the removably fixed stub shaft 40 is the cylindrical projection or extension III. A first stage speed reducing gear Il? having concentric opening H3 is positioned or fitted over eccentric H10. Consequently gear H2 is eccentrically disposed in respect to shaft ex.- tension I II. It will be noted, however, that gear H2 has sixteen teeth whereas crown gear i953 has one tooth more and theoretically only one tooth of gear H2 is in mesh with a groove of the crown gear |06 at a time. If therefore wheel I is rotated, crown gear |06, which is integral with the horizontal rim or shell I 0I is also rotated but in respect to its fixed shaft 40. Consequently, since at least one tooth of gear H2 is in mesh with the crown gear and gear I I2 is eccentrically displaced, movement of the wheel 4| through the cooperation of the fixed eccentric H0 moves gear I I2 in an orbit, that is, eccentrically with respect to shaft 40 of the revoluble shell |01 and ultimately gear ||2 is advanced one tooth relative to crown gear |06. Hence for each revolution of the latter, gear H2, will be advanced to mesh with a successive groove of the crown gear. That is, the eccentrically mounted gear I I2 makes one complete orbit after many revolutions of the crown gear |06, or in other words, gear i I 2 is advanced one step on each complete revolution of the crown gear I 06 and therefore cooperates with the latter as the wheel revolves.

Eccentrically mounted on extension III shaft 40 is an eccentric ring or annular disc H4 which includes, a pin I I4 disposed in driving slot H6 of gear H2, and an eccentrically disposed opening H4. Consequently if -gear H2 is advanced in step by step fashion and eccentrically, eccentric disc ||4 driven by the latter will also be advanced in step by step fashion.

An intermediate or second stage speed reducing gear I|1 has a concentric and relative large opening H8 mounted on the eccentrically disposed driving ring or disc H4. In other words, for every revolution of the first stage speed reducing gear H2, intermediate gear |I1 is advanced one step or one tooth relative to the crown gear |06 with which its teeth mesh during its eccentrica] motion while passing through its orbit.

Intermediate gear H1 is utilized to actuate the eccentric element or disc ring H9 having an eccentrically disposed opening |20, that is, ring H9 has a pin I2| disposed in driving slot |22 of the intermediate gear I|1 and if the latter is driven,

step by step, correspondingly eccentric ring I I9 is actuated step by step.

Third stage speed reducing means includes a ofK gear |23 having the large concentric opening |24', the sides of the latter being driven by the eccentric companion disc H9. As the latter is eccentrically rotated, gear |23 is moved along in its eccentric orbit although a portion thereof only is in mesh with the grooves vof the crown gear l 06 and for every revolution of intermediate gear l1, last stage gear |23 is advanced one step or tooth relative to crown gear |06 to cooperate therewith, it being noted that the spaced reducing gears H2, H1 and |23 have the same number of teeth and concentric opening H8 is larger than the opening H3 of the rst stage gear and opening |24 of the last stage gear is larger than opening H8 of the intermediate stage gear to fit over respectively eccentric member H4 which is larger than eccentric and eccentric element H0 which is larger than eccentric member H4.

Eccentrically disposed ring gear |23 is provided with a driving pin |24 positioned in a slot |25 of a dial or indicator |26 concentrically and rotatably mounted on shaft extension H|. Consequently, as the last stage speed ring gear |23 is advanced step by step during its cooperation with the crown gear, dial or member |26 will be rotatably driven in respect to fixed shaft 40 on which it is concentrically guided.

Appropriately attached to the outside face of annular flange |01 of the odometer wheel 4| is a disc shaped retaining plate |21 having a window or opening |28 permitting indicia |29of disc member |26 to be severally viewed when registered with window |28.

Within shell |0l of the odometer wheel 4|, an annular spacing cup |30 is interposed between flange |01 and a companion rotatable bearing member 94, and a plurality of rivets |3| fasten the annular and complementary rotatable bearing members 94 and 95, annular flange |32 of the spacing cup |30, annular flange |01 of crown gear it, and the closure disc |21 together. It will be seen therefore that the parts of the odometer construction are compactly arrangedin a relatively small space within an enclosure or housing defined by annular flange |32, annular flange 01 of shell or rim |0|, and the closure disc |21.

Referring more particularly to the odometer construction, the eccentrically disposed gears H2, H1 and |23 each have sixteen lteeth and the crown gear of the wheel is provided with seventeen teeth. As the crown gear |06 revolves relative to shaft 40 during contact of the horizontally disposed shell or tread on a pavement or supporting surface, for example, as in the course of skating, eccentric or cam l0 displaces companion first stage gear H2 to travel its orbit, although atleast one tooth thereof is in mesh with a groove of the crown gear. By this arrangement, for one revolution of the wheel, gear H2 in effect is advanced one step only. Stated in another way, if tooth of irst stage gear H2 be considered as an example (see Figs. l0 and l1) and it is assumed that tooth |35 is within groove |36 of crown gear |06, it follows that after one complete revolution of the shell I0 in respect of fixed shaft fiel, tooth |35 would be in registration with he next successive groove |31 of the crown gear l. On the next revolution of shell |0| or crown gear i and after gear |2 has travelled through a complete orbit, tooth |35 would be in mesh with the next successive groove |38. It is apparent therefore that gear H2 cooperates with the horizontally disposed teeth of the annular band of teeth formed in ange |01 to define the crown gear |06. For purposes of specification eccentric H0, gear H2 and crown gear |06 may be considered as the first stage speed reducing means and to obtain the approximate distance travelled by the skater, the indicator readings of each registering device of both skates are additively considered to obtain a sum which is divided by two to obtain the mean or average approximate distance traversed by the skater.

During the actual course of skating, the skates are alternately travelling along the ground or supporting surface. Hence one odometer wheel according to the invention is attached to each skate. To determine the approximate distance travelled, the operator notes the readings of the odometer wheel of both skates before the start of the skating period and at the conclusion of the latter the readings of the odometer wheels are also noted. Accordingly the displacement of the indicator members of both skates may be ascertained. The total displacement of the indicator members of both skates may then be computed f and this total displacement is divided by two to obtain the approximate or average displacement of the indicating members of both skates. This average or mean displacement expressed numerically may be considered as the approximate linear distance traversed by the skater, that is, the average displacement of the indicating members of both skates.

Of course, a, more accurate determination of the approximate distance traversed lby askater may also be ascertained by the present invention. In this connection, a skater notes the mean displacement of both indicating members over a statute mile or some other definite distance. Hence each skater may determine the indicator displacement characteristic or skating coefficient of his or her particular stroke or style. With this skating coefficient determined for a predetermined distance, obviously other nonpredetermined distances may be computed from the total mean displacement of the indicating members or dials of both skates and therefore the peculiarity present in the course of skating, namely, one skate alternately on and off the ground is taken into consideration to obtain the approximate skating distance traversed.

Eccentrically disposed actuating disc H4 and companion gear H1 in cooperation with crown gear |06 may be considered as the second stage of speed reducing means and eccentric or disc |8 together with gear |23 and crown gear |06 comprise the third stage speed reducing means and it follows therefore that although all parts of the odometer except the fixed eccentric H0 bodily rotate with the wheel relative to fixed shaft 53,

the distance travelled by the skater may be dei:

termined or approximated from the readings on the indicator members |26 of the registering device of both the skates, which indicators may be calibrated to read in miles or fractions thereof, however, the extent of rotary displacement of the indicator dial |26 as previously mentioned being controlled by the eccentrically actuated gears H2, H8 and |23 each cooperating with crown gear |06 common thereto.

In the form illustrated, three speed reducing stages of the odometer wheel are utilized to cause one revolution of the indicator |26 for every four thousands nine hundred and thirteen revolutions of its wheel shell. This may be determined by taking seventeen to the third power, seventeen being the number of teeth on the crown gear |06 and the power or exponent taken is the number of speed reducing stages employed. If, more speed reduction of the odometer wheel is desired, additional speed reducing stages may Cil be added, or alternatively, if only one or two speed reduction stages are required, the second and third stages or the last stage respectively may be eliminated as is well understood.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many widely different species or structural embodiments of the invention could be devised without departing from the scope thereof, it is intended that all matter hereinbefore described in the specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claimt- 1. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric, rotatable means mounted on said shaft and having a portion for contacting a stationary surface to rotate said rotatable means about said shaft, eccentrically displaceable means within said rotatable means and actuatedy by said eccentric during rotation of said rotatable means to cooperate with the latter, a member within said rotatable means and adapted to carry a plurality of indicia and rotatably mounted on said shaft and driven by said eccentrically displaceable means and displaceable relative tc said rotatable means during rotation of the latter, and closure means bodily carried by said rotatable means for exposing portions of said member.

2. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a portion adapted to contact a supporting surface to rotate said wheel relative to said shaft, said wheel having a toothed portion, eccentrically displaceable means within said wheel adapted to be actuated by said eccentric for cooperating with said toothed portion, a member Within said wheel and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced indicia and mounted on said shaft and adapted to be displaced by said eccentrically displaceable means relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter, and means secured to said wheel for exposing a portion of said member.

3. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a portion adapted to contact a supporting surface to rotate said wheel relative tosaid shaft, said wheel having a toothed portion, eccentrically displaceable means within said wheel adapted to be actuated by said eccentric for cooperating with said toothed portion, a member adapted to carry indicia and disposed within said wheel and rotatably mounted on said shaft and adapted to be displaced relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter, and a closure secured to said wheel and having an opening for registering a portion of said member.

4. In combination with a flxed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably retained on said shaft having a substantially horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel about said shaft and having a substantially vertically arranged toothed member, a rotatable member concentrically mounted on said shaft and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced indicia, means actuated by said eccentric and cooperating with said toothed member during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft for displacing said rotatable member in respect to said revolving wheel, and means secured to said toothed member for exposing a portion of said rotatable member.

5. In combination with a xed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft and having a horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface and including an annular flange having a plurality of teeth, spaced means secured to said flange defining therewith a housing, means cooperating with said teeth and actuated by said eccentric during rotation of said wheel, and a member adapted to carry indicia and disposed within said housing and driven by said means cooperating with said teeth and displaceable in respect to said wheel during rotation of the latter, for registering a portion of said member with a portion of said housing.

6. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably mounted on said shaft including a horizontal portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel and having an annular flange including a plurality of teeth, means secured to said flange defining therewith a housing having an opening, eccentricaily displaceable means actuated by said eccentric and cooperating with said teeth during rotation of said wheel, and eccentrically displaceable means driven by said first mentioned eccentrically displaceable means and cooperating with said teeth, and a rotatable member adapted to carry spaced indicia and connected to and displaced relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter by said second mentioned eccentrically displaceable means, said rotatable member having portions thereof adapted to severally register with said opening during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft.

'7. In combination with a removably fixed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably retained thereon, said wheel having a substantially vertically disposed flange having horizontally arranged teeth, spaced means secured to said flange constituting therewith a housing having an opening, driven means comprising a gear actuated by said eccentric during rotation of said Wheel and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric member driven by said gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric member and actuated thereby to cooperate with said teeth during rotation of said wheel, and a rotatable member adapted to carry spaced indicia and actuated by said driven means and rotatively displaceable relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter in respect to said shaft, said rotatable member having portions adapted to register with said opening during rotation of said wheel.

8. In combination with a removably fixed shaft having an eccentric, a wheel rotatably retained thereon, said wheel having a substantially vertically disposed flange having substantially horizontally arranged teeth, spaced means straddling said flange to define therewith a housing including an opening, a gear mounted on said eccentric and actuated thereby during rotation of said wheel to cooperate with said teeth, an eccentric member driven by said gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric member and actuated thereby to cooperate with said teeth during rotation of said wheel, an eccentric element driven by said last mentioned gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric element and actuated thereby to cooperate with said teeth during rotation of said wheel, a rotatable member adapted to carry spaced indicia and driven by said last mentioned gear and adapted to be displaced relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter and having portions thereof adapted to severally register with said opening during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft.

9. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric and an extension, a wheel rotatably retained on said shaft,said wheel having a substantiaily horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel relative to said shaft, said wheel h-aving a gear including substantially horizontally disposed teeth, means cooperating with said teeth adapted to be actuated by said eccentric and eccentrically disposed relative to said extension, a member adapted to carry spaced indicia and rotatably mounted on s-aid extension and driven by said means cooperating with said teeth and adapted to be displaced relative to said wheel during rotation of the latter, and means secured to and bodily rotatable with said gear for exposing a portion of said driven and rotatable member.

10. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric and a concentric extension, a wheel rotatably retained on said shaft, said wheel having a substantially horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel in respect to said shaft, said wheel having a flange including an annular band of spaced teeth, spaced means secured to s-aid iiange and dening therewith a housing having an opening, eccentrically actuated means comprising a gear actuated by said eccentric and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric member mounted on said extension and driven by said gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric member and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric element mounted on said extension and driven by said last mentioned gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric element and cooperating with said teeth, and a rotatable member adapted to carry a plurality of spaced indicia and driven by said last mentioned gear and having portions adapted to severally register with opening during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft.

11. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric and a concentric extension, a wheel rotatably retained on said shaft, said wheel having a substantially horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel in respect to said shaft, said wheel including a flange having an annular band of spaced teeth, spaced means secured to said flange and dening therewith a housing having an opening, and eccentrically actuated means comprising a gear actuated by said eccentric and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric member mounted on said extension and driven by said gear and having a size larger than said eccentric, a gear mounted on said eccentric member for cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric element mounted on said extensicn and driven by said last mentioned gear and having a size larger than said eccentric member, a. ge. i' mounted on said eccentric element and adapted to cooperate with said teeth, and a meiner rotatably mounted on said extension and driven by said last mentioned gear and adapted to carry a plurality of spaced indicia and having portions adapted to register with said opening during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft.

j?. In combination with a fixed shaft having an eccentric and a concentric extension, a wheel rotatably retained on said shaft, said wheel having a substantially horizontally disposed portion for contacting a supporting surface to rotate said wheel in respect to said shaft, said wheel having a nange including an annular band of spaced teeth, spaced means secured to said flange and deining therewith a housing having an opening, eccentrically actuated means comprising a gear actuated by said eccentric and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric member mounted on said extension and driven by said gear, a gear mounted on said eccentric member and cooperating with said teeth, an eccentric element mounted. on said extension and driven by said last mentioned gear,

a gear mounted on said eccentric element and cooperating with said teeth, and a member driven by said last mentioned gear and adapted to carry a plurality of indicia and having a portion adapted to register with said opening during rotation of said wheel relative to said shaft, the first, second and third mentioned gears having the same number of teeth, and said band comprises at least the number of teeth of either of said mentioned gears plus one tooth, and said band of teeth being common to all of said mentioned gears.

13. As a new article of manufacture, a shaft having an eccentric and a concentric portion overhanging said eccentric, a wheel rotatable relative tosaid shaft and comprising a crown gear, a spur gear disposed in an extension of the plane ci said eccentric and having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby during rotation of said Wheel, eccentrically displaceable means actuated by said spur gear, and a member rotatable relative thereto a terminal of said concentric portion and actuated by said eccentrically displaceable means and displaceable relative to said wheel during rotation thereof.

14. As a new article of manufacture and in combination, a nonrotatable shaft having an eccentric integral therewith and a concentric portion overhanging said eccentric and integral therewith, a wheel rotatable relative to said shaft, a crown gear bodily rotatable with said wheel, and a spur gear substantially in alinement with said eccentric having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby during rotation of said wheel, eccentrically displaceable means adapted to cooperate with said crown gear and actuated by said spur gear, and a member rotatable relative to said concentric portion and actuated by said eccentrically displaceable means and displaceable relative to said wheel during rotation thereof about said shaft 15. As a new article of manufacture and in combination, a nonrotatable shaft having an eccentric and a concentric portion overhanging said eccentric, a member rotatable relative to said shaft, a crown gear bodily rotatable with said member, a spur gear having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby relative to said shaft during rotation of said member, disc means having an eccentric opening surrounding said concentric portion, a spur gear having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said disc means, and means for displacing said disc means during displacement of said first mentioned spur gear, said disc means during displacement thereof during rotation of said member causing said second mentioned spur gear to be eccentrically displaced to permit the teeth thereof to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear.

16. As a new article of manufacture and in combination, a nonrotatable shaft having an eccentric and a concentric portion overhangng said eccentric, a member adapted to contact a fixed surface to rotate relative to said shaft, a crown gear bodily rotatable with said member, a spur gear disposed substantially in alinement with said eccentric and having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby relative to said. shaft during rotation of said member, disc means having an eccentric opening closely but movably surrounding said concentric portion, a spur gear having teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said disc means and disposed substantially in alinement with the latter, and means for displacing said disc means during displacement of said first mentioned spur gear, said disc means during displacement thereof during rotation of said member causing said second mentioned spur gear to be eccentrically displaced to permit the teeth thereof to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear.

l?. The article of manufacture according to claim i6 in' which the disc means is larger than said eccentric, and the concentric opening of said second mentioned spur gear is larger than the concentric pening of the rst mentioned spur gear.

18. The article of manufacture according to claim. 16 in which the disc means is larger than said eccentric, and the concentric opening of said second mentioned spur gear is larger than the concentric opening of the rst mentioned spur gear and wherein the teeth of the rst and sec-- cnd mentioned spur gears have the same number of teeth and said crown gear has one tooth more than either of said spur gears.

19. As a new article of manufacture and in combination, a shaft having an eccentric and a concentrically arranged portion extending laterally of said eccentric and integral therewith, a wheel adapted to contact a xed surface to rotate relative to said shaft, means constituting crown gear meansl bodily rotatable with said wheel, a spur g'ear disposed substantially in alinement with said eccentric and having a( plurality of teeth. severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear means and having a concentric opening including a wall closely but movably surroundng said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby relative to said shaft during rotation of said wheel, disc means having an eccentric opening including a wall closely but movably surrounding said concentrically arranged portion, a spur gear having teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear means and having a concentric opening including a wall closely but movably surrounding said disc means and disposed substantially in alinement with the latter, means for displacing said disc means during displacement of said first mentioned spur gear, said disc means during displacement thereof during rotation of said wheel causing said second mentioned spur gear to be eccentrically displaced to permit the teeth thereof to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear means, a member rotatable relative to said shaft, and eccentrically displaceable means cooperating with said crown gear means and operatively interposed between said member and said. second mentioned spur gear for rotatably displacing said member during rotation of said wheel.

20. As a new article of manufacture and 1n combination, a no-n-rotatable shaft having an eccentric and a concentric portion overhanging said eccentric, a wheel adapted to contact a fixed surface to rotate relative to said shaft, a crown gear bodily rotatable with said wheel, a spur gear disposed substantially in alinement with said eccentric and having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced thereby relative to saidshaft during rotation of said wheel, disc means having an eccentric opening closely but movably surrounding said concentric portion, a driving connection between said spur gear and disc means, a spur gear having teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said disc means and disposed substantially in alinement with the latter, means for displacing said disc means during displacement of said first mentioned spur gear, said disc means during displacement thereof during rotation of said wheel causing said second mentioned spur gear to be eccentrically displaced to permit the teeth thereof to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear, a member rotatably mounted adjacent a terminal of said concentric portion, and eccentrically displaceable means operatively interconnecting said second mentioned spur gear and said member for displacing they latter during rotation of said wheel.

21. As a new article of manufacture and in combination, a non-rotatable shaft having an eccentric and a concentric portion overhanging said eccentric, a wheel adapted to contact a xed surface to rotate relative to said shaft, a crown gear bodily rotatable with said wheel, a spur gear disposed substantially in alinement with said eccentric and having a plurality of teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said eccentric and adapted to be eccentrically displaced `thereby relative to said shaft during rotation of said wheel, disc means having an eccentric opening closely but movably surrounding said concentric portion, a driving connection between said disc means and spur gear, a spur gear having teeth severally cooperating with the teeth of said crown gear and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said disc means and disposed substantially in alinement with the latter, means for displacing said disc means during displacement of said rst mentioned spur gear, said disc means during displacement thereof during rotation of said wheel causing said second mentioned spur gear to be eccentrically displaced to permit they teeth thereof to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear, disc means having an eccentric opening closely but movably surrounding said concentric portion and having means driven by said second mentioned spur gear, a spur gear disposed substantially in alinement with said second mentioned disc means and having a concentric opening closely but movably surrounding said second mentioned disc means and actuated by the latter to severally cooperate with the teeth of said crown gear during rotation of said wheel, a member rotatably mounted adjacent a terminal of said concentric portion, and means operatively connecting said third mentioned spur gear and member for displacing the latter relative tol said wheel during rotation of the latter.

22. The article of manufacture according to claim 21 wherein, the eccentric is smaller than said irst mentioned disc means and the latter is smaler than the second mentioned disc means,

and wherein the concentric opening of the third mentioned spur gear is larger than the concentric opening of the second mentioned spur gear which in turn is larger than the concentric opening of the rst mentioned spur gear.

23. The article of manufacture according to 10 claim 21 wherein the concentric opening of the SAMUEL SEGAL. 

